Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping? - Chapter 50
You are experiencing severe marriage blues as your wedding approaches.
You are at a crossroads, wondering whether to demand reassurance from Kaint or to meet another man to confirm your feelings.
What will you choose?
- Go meet Kaint.
- Go meet Hexion.
- Go meet Marvis.
I don’t even know where to begin pointing out the problems, but first of all, I’ve never experienced marriage blues, nor have I ever wanted reassurance from Kaint, and my desire to meet Hexion wasn’t about confirming my feelings either.
There were many things I wanted to argue about with this system window that was writing its own story, but at least I was glad that an option to meet Hexion appeared.
The problem is why Marvis showed up as an option too.
‘Meet him when his affection level is in the negative? I’d be lucky if it doesn’t trigger a bad ending.’
When there are three choices, usually one of them is a dud. The option to meet Marvis is probably the dud choice that leads straight to a bad ending.
To be honest, I was a bit curious about what he was doing in the City of Darkness, and I wanted to know why his affection level had dropped so drastically.
But going to meet another man whose affection level has plummeted through the earth’s core when I’m about to get married would be suicide.
This might sound like an excuse coming from someone who consistently picked all the wrong choices when dealing with Marvis in reality, but I’m not actually someone who likes taking risks.
So I’ll see you next time.
‘Since they mentioned confirming feelings, choosing Hexion probably won’t immediately lead to his ending.’
Let’s just see his face and have a calm conversation. If I can help clear his false charges, that would be even better.
With that in mind, I clicked option 2.
Moving to the underground prison to meet [Hexion].
What? Prison?
Hexion is imprisoned right now?
Before I could even ask who I should direct my questions to, the scenery around me changed. The prison, surrounded by moisture-laden stone walls, was dark but not completely pitch black thanks to scattered lights.
Even Niflheim, known as the City of Darkness, wasn’t this bad – staying in a place like this would drive anyone insane.
‘You’re saying Hexion is locked up here? This treatment is too harsh for someone they promised to heal.’
Poor Hexion. To be locked up in a place even worse than the temple prison, unable to see the light.
I’m not even sure if Kaint properly treated him.
With all this moisture, wouldn’t his wounds get worse? What if he’s suffering from a fever?
Worried about various things, I quickened my pace. Though I could feel my shoes getting wet from the damp floor, this wasn’t the time to worry about such things.
BANG!
That’s when I heard something being struck violently.
The sudden loud noise in the quiet made me jump, but once I realized it was man-made, my eyes automatically turned toward its source. The sound clearly came from around the corner.
CRASH!
Another loud noise rang out. My heart started racing involuntarily at the violent sound that seemed capable of destroying whatever was being struck.
‘Is someone fighting? In this prison?’
Since Hexion is in this prison, if there’s fighting, he’s likely involved.
He’s already injured, and even if they called a healer, he must still be recovering. Fighting in that condition could reopen his wounds.
I became anxious.
As I turned the corner, I saw an iron door. Despite being heavily rusted, the door with multiple locks looked too sturdy to break easily.
“Damn it!”
I instinctively pressed myself against the wall when I heard the sharp curse. My heart was pounding.
‘That was Hexion’s voice just now, wasn’t it?’
Another BANG echoed as someone kicked the iron door. Rather than trying to break it down, it seemed more like someone venting their rising anger.
No way. Hexion was always the model of a dignified knight, just a bit strict and nagging.
“Damn it all! For me to be in a place like this…!”
“Hexion.”
The voice that had been shouting in anger suddenly stopped. Though I hadn’t called out very loudly, Hexion seemed to recognize my voice.
“Shin Joo? Is that you?”
“I’m sorry. You’re locked up here because of me, aren’t you?”
Hexion was falsely accused because I put Marvis’s belongings in his inventory.
I should have used the Blade of Judgment to clear his name, but this time the system arbitrarily chose option 2 and brought me here, causing Hexion to lose even the chance to restore his honor.
‘Since I’m the only one who knows it’s a false charge, Kaint must still misunderstand Hexion as a traitor.’
Even so, it was too much of Kaint to imprison someone who came all this way looking for me while injured, in this dark and damp prison. I was wrong to trust his promise about calling a healer so completely.
“Shin Joo, why are you here…?”
“I didn’t know you were suffering in a place like this. I’m sorry I came to find you so late.”
I stroked the iron door with guilt and self-loathing.
The old iron door was dented in several places, which seemed to be where Hexion had kicked it.
Goodness, how angry must he have been?
“You can resent me, Hexion.”
“Shin Joo…?”
“I should have come to see you earlier, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move freely in the castle. Even if you think it’s just an excuse…”
Through the door, Hexion remained silent. Was he surprised by my sudden visit? Or was he in pain from his wounds? With no holes in the iron door, I couldn’t check inside.
Just as I was about to ask Hexion if he was alright, his voice came through, seemingly having regained its composure.
“So you’ve managed to escape after being imprisoned by the Grand Admiral, and rushed here to request my help.”
“Huh?”
“As I thought, that man is not worthy of your favor.”
“Um, what?”
“You’ve come a long way, but now that you’ve realized I’m the only one you can trust, that’s enough. I am satisfied.”
“Hexion, Hexion?”
“I’ll be out shortly. Please wait a moment.”
While I was hesitating on how to respond to what seemed like Hexion’s misunderstanding, a different level of impact sound rang out. Crack. The sound of the iron door being crushed could be heard.
“Eek!”
I unconsciously took a step back in fear. Another BANG followed this time sounding like someone throwing their entire body against the door.
Clank. Clatter.
The locks surrounding the iron door flew off and fell to the ground. And then, as Hexion threw himself against the door once more.
“Shin Joo.”
Hexion emerged, having crumpled the iron door like a piece of paper.
Though his face remained divine, the fire in his eyes made him look like a demon from hell possessing an angel.
As I stood there gaping, unable to string words together, Hexion approached me. He wiped away the blood flowing from his temple and knelt on one knee before me.
“Are you hurt anywhere, Shin Joo?”
“I’m more worried about you, Hexion…”
“I am fine.”
Judging by the medicine and bandages visible here and there, it seemed Kaint had indeed called a healer as promised. The problem was that the wounds had reopened and were bleeding again from forcing the iron door open.
Yet Hexion appeared strangely energetic. They say warriors feel exhilarated after battle and their fatigue disappears – perhaps he relieved his stress by kicking down the door?
“It would be best not to stay here any longer. I will escort you to the temple.”
Hexion extended his hand toward me. I instinctively reached out to take it but stopped.
“Shin Joo?”
They mentioned a bride kidnapping event would occur. If I take Hexion’s hand here now, it would mean canceling my wedding with Kaint and fleeing to the temple. That would just be repeating the previous playthrough.
‘System window.’
I called up Hexion’s status window.
Affection Level: X (Cannot be pursued)
Hexion’s affection level was still unmeasurable. So there wasn’t much chance of him suddenly changing and kidnapping me if I refused here.
‘I need to sort this out before he becomes pursuable again.’
While pursuing multiple routes might be an efficient strategy in dating games, doing so after marriage would be adultery.
While I wouldn’t mind enjoying a harem full of handsome men, I have zero desire to become the protagonist of a makjang drama full of chaos and destruction.
“Hexion. Let me heal your wounds first. You’ve received treatment, but they might get worse…”
“Shin Joo, I am fine.”
“I’m saying I’m not fine with it.”
I quickly placed my hand on Hexion’s temple and channeled my divine power.
